Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore told MMM that he is actively encouraging Chris Isola, a declared candidate for the CD-3 GOP nomination, to seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate instead.

Isola, of Malton in Burlington County, is close to making a decision, according to Gilmore.

The Ocean County GOP’s screening committee endorsed former Randolph Mayor Tom MacArthur to replace Congressman Jon Runyan in the House of Representatives last weekend. Gilmore’s committee interviewed Murray Sabrin and Jeff Bell for the Senate nomination on Saturday but did not select a candidate. “There are two other candidates we want to interview and a fifth who I want to get in, Chris Isola,” Gilmore said after Governor Chris Christie’s Town Hall meeting in Toms River.

Isola’s LinkedIn profile lists his profession as “Candidate at 113th United States Congress.” A U.S. Marine Corp veteran, Isola served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon his honorable discharge in 2005 Isola entered the financial services industry.

@Maxster: I’m sure if Gene Hoyas is seriously thinking of running he will make his intentions known soon. He’d make a great candidate, and will give Frank Pallone a fight like he’s never had before. Aside from that Gene would unite the Tea Parties, and the RINO hacks will have the uncomfortable choice to either support him or get out of the way.

Besides that it looks like Jeff Bell will be the GOP nominee for US Senate now that he has the backing of Steve Lonegan. I don’t know if Bell has the full support of the Tea Parties, or the American Tea Party Congress, but with Lonegan’s backing he’ll be a formidable opponent. With Gene Hoyas running for Congress on the same ticket as Jeff Bell, both Frank Pallone and Cory Booker will need every penny they can raise just to survive.